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BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Steve Konowalchuk didn't expect to score the
decisive goal for the Washington Capitals quite the way he did.
"I was surprised that it went in," said Konowalchuk, who got
the rebound after he missed on a breakaway then flipped the puck
behind Philadelphia's Brian Boucher with 7:25 left Saturday night.
"I just threw it back at the net, but I'll take it."
|  | | Joe Sacco's first of two goals got past Flyers goalie Brian Boucher to tie the score at 3 in the third period Saturday. |
Konowalchuk's goal broke a 3-3 tie and highlighted a four-goal
final period as the Capitals beat the Flyers 6-3. Washington has
come from behind in each of its last four victories.
Joe Sacco, who pulled the Capitals into the tie midway through
the period with his first goal in nearly two months, got an assist
on the game-winner. Jeff Halpern, who won the faceoff on Sacco's
goal, also assisted on Konowalchuk's.
"Halpern won the faceoff, and the puck was just sitting
there," Sacco said. "I got my stick on it and put a shot on net.
There may have been a screen."
Sacco and Peter Bondra added empty-net goals after the Flyers
pulled Boucher for an extra skater with 1:31 left.
"If anyone is deserving of that kind of period, it is Joe
Sacco," said Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig, who made 33 saves in
improving to 17-11-5. "The guy works so hard in practice."
Boucher replaced starter Roman Cechmanek -- who stopped 12 of 14
shots before leaving with the flu -- to start the third period.
Boucher made three fine stops on a Capitals' flurry in front of the
net six minutes into the period, but he couldn't keep the Capitals
in check throughout.
"I stopped it with my stick and it hit my pad and just seemed
to trickle over the goal line," Boucher said of Konowalchuk's
game-winner. "I have to make that save. I let my team down
tonight."
Flyers coach Bill Barber agreed.
"The puck's got to be stopped, bottom line," Barber said.
"Those kind of pucks in those plays, you have to have the big
save. We need big saves."
The Flyers took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when
Ruslan Fedotenko took a pass from Kevin Stevens from behind the net
and beat Olaf Kolzig, who wound up with 33 saves.
Andrei Nikolishin tied the game moments later, then Washington
went ahead 2-1 lead when Richard Zednik tipped it in a shot by
Calle Johansson on a power play.
Philadelphia got even at late in the second period on
Fedotenko's second goal of the game. The goal snapped the Flyers'
0-for-35 drought on the power play.
Twenty-one seconds later, Andy Delmore converted a cross-ice
pass from Rick Tocchet into a 3-2 lead.
Game notes
Bondra extended his scoring streak to five games. His
next game-winning goal will equal Mike Gartner's career team mark
of 54. . . The Flyers played their second consecutive game without
Keith Primeau, who injured his shoulder Wednesday in Florida. ...
Sylvain Cote's point in the first period was his first since Nov.
18. ... Washington's Chris Simon hasn't been whistled for a penalty
during the past 12 games, the longest penalty-free stretch of his
career. ... The game drew 18,672 to MCI Center, the Capitals' first
sellout of the season.
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NHL Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
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Edmonton 3
Montreal 2
Toronto 4
Florida 1
Buffalo 2
NY Islanders 0
Pittsburgh 5
Ottawa 3
Boston 1
Tampa Bay 1
Washington 6
Philadelphia 3
St. Louis 2
Phoenix 1
Vancouver 6
San Jose 3
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